Noah Chadwick is the 6'4 transition machine ready to fix the Maple Leafs blue line
Photo credit: Steven Ellis - Daily Faceoff
Noah Chadwick is a player who isn't getting a lot of attention, but should be considering he has all the tools to be their playmaker of the future on the blueline.
The Toronto Maple Leafs blueline is bad. I know it's harsh to say, but when you give up genuinely the most chances in the league, have the worst transition offence, and rely on a 35-year old to carry the load, things aren't pretty.
While all credit should be given to Oliver Ekman-Larsson, he's not someone who should be relied on the run the offence. Not because he isn't good, but because his role is a veteran lower pairing defender. It's not 2014 anymore.
That means Toronto has to turn to the likes of Morgan Rielly and Troy Stecher to move the needle and while Stecher was a smart waiver pickup early on, he's not exactly a name that will push the offence from the back end...and Rielly's a lost cause.
The Noah Chadwick explosion and why he is the best transition defender in the Marlies room
So looking ahead, there are ways the team can improve via the free agent or trade market but they really need to take a strong look at their AHL affiliate and more specifically Noah Chadwick.
Someone who didn't get a lot of attention given he was drafted 183rd overall in 2023, Chadwick took his first pro season and turned in a very solid performance:
- 64 Games Played
- 22 Points (5 goals, 17 assists)
- 34 PIM
- 22 Points (5 goals, 17 assists)
- 34 PIM
All of this for a player who didn't really have a genuine spot especially with regulars like William Villeneuve and NHL hopefuls like Henry Thrun and Matt Benning.
He's a deceptively quick player and often takes risks offensively which seem to pay off. A pass-first defender, he's someone who likes to carry the puck and feed his teammates, not just dump things in and hope for the best.
Marlies head coach Jon Gruden had the utmost praise for Chadwick at the start of the year which has no doubt continued this season:
He’s got great feet. And the quicker he learns how to close on pucks quick, move pucks quick out of the zone. I mean, he’s got the skill set and size to be an effective player as a pro.
That's exactly the type of risk-taking, up-tempo offence Toronto needs, and when you're also 6'4 and 207 pounds; you're an intimidating presence as well. It's a mix of speed, skill and size that should give Chadwick the edge over his contemporaries.
Why the sixth round steal is ready for a Maple Leafs call up sooner than anyone thinks
Chadwick is still only 20 years old, and while there's a ton of room for him to grow; he's got some of the best minds working with him.
For comparison, he was third in scoring for blueliners behind Villeneuve and Thrun but the former has years of AHL experience meanwhile the latter is a proven NHL player; it's not like he's competing with newcomers.
If you want to really shoot some life into the team, bring Chadwick up as someone who can learn with the best. Stick him on a pairing with Chris Tanev (if he's healthy) and allow him to get comfortable.
If Toronto is retooling and the playoffs are still a year or two away, why not see what Chadwick can offer? The worst thing is that he's too green and needs to go back to the AHL — where he's shown to be successful.
You're not losing much by giving Chadwick a chance, and for the Maple Leafs and their anemic offensive game from the back end, it's worth a shot.
Besides, they're going to need a replacement for Morgan Rielly eventually.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Chris Pronger is challenging the Maple Leafs to prove they actually have the conviction to win it all
Chris Pronger is challenging the Maple Leafs to prove they actually have the conviction to win it all
Previously on Hockey Patrol
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 10|672 ANSWERS Noah Chadwick is the 6'4 transition machine ready to fix the Maple Leafs blue line Should the Maple Leafs call-up Noah Chadwick for the 2026-27 season? | ||
| Yes | 553 | 82.3 % |
| No | 119 | 17.7 % |
| List of polls | ||